Structural unit



y 1933- w. GOELTZ STRUCTURAL UNI T Filed Nov. 11, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 z s mam mw m ma 0 ML m z 7 y 23, 1933- w. L. GOELTZ 1,911,018

STRUCTURAL UNIT Filed Nov. 11, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2M TTORNEYS 'May'23, 1933, i

w. L. GOELTZ STRUCTURAL UNIT Filed N ov. 11, 1931 INVENTOR WzZZz'ai/zZ- W/Zz M YUM M ATI' RNEYS Patented May 23, 1933 WILLIAM L. GOELTZ, OF CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY STRUCTURAL UNIT Application filed November 11, 1931. Serial No. 574,265.

The present invention relates broadly to structural units and more particularly to a building intertruss member.

The present invention comprises more especially a built up unit formed of interlaced and interlocked trusses fabricated as a unit in such manner that the truss structures will be at substantially right angles to the plane of the face of the structural unit in which the intertruss member is to be incorporated. That is, in one form, the intertruss unit may comprise the skeleton for a partition, wherein the face of the partition will be vertical While the trusses in the intertruss unit will extend at right angles to the said faces.

The present invention contemplates structural units of light weight, non-deteriorating material, comprising trusses interlaced and interlocked so as to be of the required structural strength, an to be capable of erection as a unit, and with sufiicient flexibility to provide for assembly at a minimum cost, as well as capable of nesting for shipment. These intertruss units are adapted to be fabricated as an entity and to be erected in the structure as a finished unit.

The intertruss units are particularly adapted for concrete reenforcement wherein the units are erected in place and comprise a skeleton form on which the structural forms or molds are supported. "This is the reverse of the present practice in which heavy forms or molds for concrete comprise the supporting element in which reenforcement members are set.

The present invention also contemplates structural units such as flood trusses or partition trusses or other building units wherein auxiliary elements such as window easements, door frames, etc., may be mounted in the fabricating shop and the entire structural unit shipped as an entity'and erected as such in the building in which the intertruss construction is a part.

The present invention likewise contemplates the use of these intertruss members fabricated into structural units for reenforcing any type of concrete structure or for such purposes as building framework to support the covering materials such as outside ance with the requirements for the particufacings of various types of weather protection elements and inside finish such as metal lath carrying plaster or wall boards or other types of the interior finish.

The present invention comprises primarily an intertruss structural unit preferably formed by welding iron or steel shapes or rods into interlaced truss members. These interlaced truss members are fabricated in accordlar use to which the units are to be put and then are shipped to the place of erection where the units may be welded to other units such as the steel framework for a building or these intertruss units may be fastened together in other well known ways to comprise a skeleton framework for the finishing materials. For relatively small structures such as dwellings, small stores, etc., the entire framework of the building may be made by erecting the intertruss units and locking these units together in place in such manner as to support the walls and other elements of the building.

These intertruss members may also be used to build walls, floors, roadways, sewers, conduits, or any other type of structure in which wood, concrete or steel is commonly used.

Other and further objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part be pointed out hereinafter by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present disclosure.

Fig. 1 illustrates one form of standard fabricated intertruss unit adapted for general use.

Fig. 2 illustrates cross sections through various types of truss members from which the i ntertruss units may be fabricated.

Fig. 3 is a detail of a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail of a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 illustrates an intertruss unit used in connection with a concrete floor structure and illustrating the concrete mold members as being supported from the intertruss unit.

Fig. 6 illustrates a cross-section on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 illustrates a plan view of an intertruss form in place on structural beams to com rise the reenforcement for a floor.

. supporting rods.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 illustrates a cross section showing an intertruss unit applied to a solid slab concrete floor or bridge roadway.

Fi 10 illustrates a side wall intertruss mem r in section showing the concrete forms for the faces of the side wall as being supported by the intertruss unit.

Fig. 11 illustrates intertruss units welded in place to form the skeleton framework for a building.

Fig. 12 illustrates a side wall in accordance with the structure shown in Fig. 11 and wherein a portion of the side wall is shown illustrating the intertruss unit constructed to provide a window opening in which a window casement is adapted to be set.

Referring to the drawin and more especially to Figs. 1 to 4 w ich illustrate a standard form of the intertruss structural unit comprising one embodiment of the present invention, primary truss members 1 are illustrated as extending in a vertical direction. These truss members comprise top and bottom chord members 2 to which-truss bars 4 are attached preferably by autogeneous welding. Secondary truss members 5 extend in a horizontal direction and are interlaced as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 through the primary truss members 1. The top and bottom chords 6 of the secondary truss members 5 are preferably welded to the chords 2 of the primary truss members 1 at the points where these truss members 1 and 5 intersect. The chords 6 of the secondary truss members 5 are also connected by truss bars 7.

The unit shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to be fabricated in its entirety at a shop and shipped as a unit to'the point of erection where a plurality of such units are assembled to comprise the skeleton framework for the structure being erected, either as reenforcement members or as primary wall supporting frames, dependent on the character of structure into which the units are built.

Fig. 2 is a view which illustrates cross-sections of a plurality of forms which may be autogeneously welded together to make up the primary and secondary trusses illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4.

Truss A comprises supporting rods 8 and a truss rod 9 welded to the supporting rods. Truss B is made of a pair of supporting rods 10 with a truss rod 11 welded between the Truss G is made from channels 12 used as supporting members 12 with truss rods 14 welded to the channels. Truss D is made from L-shaped bars 15 having a truss rod 16 welded to the bars. Truss E is made of supporting bars comprising a air of L-shaped members 17 with a truss rod 18 welded between the pairs of L-shaped members. The truss bar F is also formed of L-shaped bars 19 with the truss rod 20 welded in the angle of the L-shaped sup orting bars. Truss G comprises supporting ars 21 formed of Z-shapes with a truss bar 22 welded between these shapes. Truss I comprises supportin rods 24 o T-shapes with a truss rod 25 we (led to the T-shape.

Th'e top and bottom chords of the trusses as aboveillustrated are made from standard shapes. The forms shown in Fig. 2 are merely illustrative, and the skill of the art will suggest other forms which may be used in view of the illustrations. Preferably, the height of the trusses may vary from four to thirteen inches and it is preferred in all cases that the diagonals shall have a uniform spacing of eight inches and be welded to the top and bottom chords of the trusses at the contact points. Where the intertruss units are used in partition walls and for reenforcement, the primary truss members referably will be parallel at intervals of a out ei ht inches or a multiple of eight inches, since t is is substantially one fifth of a meter, and the secondary truss members will be interlaced and interlocked preferably at right angles to the main truss members and at the same interval spacing. For other uses, the spacing may be arranged as desired..

Figs. 5 and 6 show a cross section through a concrete floor 26 in which an intertruss unit 27 is set. Wire fabric 28 may be laid over the intertruss unit 27 to comprise a support and reenforcement for the concrete floor. Where the primary and secondary trusses of the intertruss member occur, concrete beams 29 and 30 may be formed. Supporting wires 31 anchor the concrete mold forms 32 in place in such manner that the intertruss member comprises the support for the concrete molds. It is to truss member is used as a floor reenforcement, it is supported by structural members as is fully il ustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, in which vertical structural members 34 carry hori zontal members 35 on which the intertruss member 27 rests.

Fig. 9 illustrates a solid concrete floor or roadway 36 formed around the intertruss member and illustrates the intertruss member as carrying supporting wires 37 for the wood forms 38 for shaping the under part of the solid floor 36.

Fig. 10 illustrates an intertruss member utilized as a reenforcement for a side wall and in which the wood forms 39 and 4Q are carried and supported by the intertruss structure, so that concrete 41 may be poured between the forms and envelope the intertruss unit. 1

Fig. 11 illustrates a one story building in which intertruss members 42, 44, and 45 con- Stitu e the framework for a building and also be understood that where the inter- I intertruss members 46 comprise the roof structure of the building.

Fig. 12 is a partial view of a side wall of the building illustrated in Fig. 11 and wherein an intertruss member 47 is provided with a window opening 48 constructed to receive a window casement 49. This window casement 49 is secured in place on the-intertruss 47 at the factory where the intertruss is made and the window casement, preferably of metal, is preferably connected by welding to the intertruss member. While a window has been illustrated, it is also obvious that door frames or other frames such as wall boxes, etc., may be secured to the intertruss units as desired. This construction provides for fabricating the entire support of a side wall as a unit and then merely setting these units in place in the building.

As illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, the entire framework of a small building may be made up of intertruss units and where this type of construction used. it is preferred that the intertruss units shall be fabricated at the factory, then shipped to the point of erection and there autogeneously welded together to comprise the integral framework for the building. 4

From the foregoing, it will appear that a principal feature of the present invention is light weight truss units fabricated in a shape, shipped as units and adapted to be erected as units to comprise a part of a structure, thereby enabling the frame of a building to be quickly completed. The fabricating operations of the trusses is carried out in a factory wherein weather conditions do not handicap the workmen. The erecting of the parts may be carried out very rapidly during fair weather conditions and thereby permit the building operations to be quickly and economically done without serious interference from bad weather as is necessarily the case where building operations are slow and cover long periods of time.

Another important factor in the present invention is the flexibility and strength of the structures in which the intertruss units are used, and for this reason, these structures are especially well adapted for use in earthquake and hurricane zones; and, furthermore, the intertruss structures are especially adapted for constructing hollow partition walls through which conduits, electric wiring, piping, etc., may easily be threaded.

The disclosure herewith is to be understood as illustrative and not in the limiting sense because the present inventions may be practiced by other forms of the invention differing from the present disclosure by variations due to the skill of the art.

What I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture a pre-fabricated structural unit comprising a plurality of individual metal truss members interlaced and welded into a composite self-sustaining unit.

2. As an article of manufacture a pre-fabricated structural unit comprising a plurality of individual metal truss members arranged in such manner that each of said truss members is intersected by a plurality of other truss members and with the chords of said truss members welded together at the points of intersection.

3. As an article of manufacture a pro-fab ricated structural unit com rising a plurality of intersecting indivi ual metal truss members welded together asa composite unit with the truss members extending at right angles to the face of the unit.

4. As an article of manufacture a pre-fabricated structural unit comprising a plurality of individual metal primary truss members arranged substantially parallel one to another, a plurality of individual metal secondary truss members intersecting the primary truss members, the chords of the secondary truss members being welded to the chords of the primary truss members at the points of intersections.

5. As an article of manufacture a prefabricated structural unit comprising a plurality of individual metal primary truss members arranged substantially parallel one to another, a plurality of individual metal secondary truss members intersecting the primary truss members, the chords of the secondary truss members being welded to the chords of the primary truss members at the points of intersections, and frames for passageways mounted in said unit.

6. As an article of manufacture a prefabricated building unit comprising a plurality of individual metal truss members arranged to intersect one with another and welded together to form an integral reenforcement adapted to be supported by building framework to comprise reenforcement for a building wall.

7. As an article of manufacture a prefabricated building unit comprising a plurality of individual metal truss members arranged to intersect one with another and welded together to form an integral reenforcement adapted to be supported by building framework to comprise reenforcement for a building wall and a window casement carried by said unit.

8. As a pre-formed structural unit, a fabricated building element comprising a, first group of individual truss members spaced apart and extending inone direction, a second group of individual truss members spaced apart and extending in a different direction, the second group of truss members intersecting the first group of truss members and the second group of truss members being secured to the first group of truss members said truss members intersecting at right at the points of intersections, whereby said angles to each other, and with the planes of interlaced and interlocked truss members the truss members at right angles to the face comprise the fabricated unit. of the unit. v

-9. As a pre-formed structural unit, afabri- WILLIAM L. GOELTZ. .7

cated building element comprising a first 4 group of individual truss members spaced apart and extending in one direction, a second group of individual truss members spaced apart and extending in a different direction, .7

the second group of truss members intersecting the first group of truss members and the chords of the second group of trussmembers being welded to the chords of the first group of truss members at the points of intersec- 0 tions, and a casement frame welded to said truss members, whereby said interlaced and interlocked truss members and said frame comprise the fabricated unit.

10. As a pre-fabricated building structure I 5 their chords autogeneously welded at the so 13. In a building structure, a pre-formed unit, a plurality of interlaced individual trusses having the chords thereof autogeneously welded at points of intersection to comprise a sustaining unit for building construction and adapted to withstand forces applied in the direction of the length of said truss members and also forces in the plane of the truss members and at right angles to the chords thereof.

11. In a building structure, a pre-fabricated unit comprising a plurality of interlaced individual trusses having the chords thereof autogeneously welded at points of intersection to comprise a sustaining unit for building construction and adapted to withstand forces applied in the direction of the length of said truss members and also forces in the plane of the truss members and at right angles to the chords thereof, and mold forms sustained in place by said unit.

12. In a building structure, a pre-formed article of manufacture comprising intersecting individual metal truss members having points of intersection, said truss members no comprising sustaining structures adapted to support mold forms, and mold forms anchored to and carried by said truss members. building unit comprising a concrete reenforcement formed of metal shapes autogeneously Welded into intersecting individual truss members with the chords of the intersecting truss members autogeneously welded together, said unit being adapted to sustain mold forms when said unit is erected in place. 14. In a building structure, a pre-formed building unit comprising a concrete reenao forcement formed of metal shapes autogeneously welded into intersecting individual truss members with the chords of the intersecting truss members autogeneously welded together, said unit being adapted to sustain l6 mold forms when said unit is erected in place, 

